WILD [my word of the year 2017]

Hi everyone!

Yes, I'm still alive!

Very very busy at the moment, but full of strenght and ready to start the new year with good energy!

In these first days of 2017 I dedicated part of my free time to find my word of the year 2017.

A lot of people in the world are doing it and I find it very inspirational for my daily life, my job and my creative journey.

I followed the (free!) course by Susannah Conway. 

It's a 5 days path, full of ideas and good advices to find the right word.

To be honest, I was so busy (for my jobs) that I needed 10 days to complete the course. At day 3 I started to feel a bit confused, because a big amount of words was rolling here and there in my brain.

But at day 4... an epiphany! 
I was 100% sure about my word for 2017.

My word of the year 2017 is WILD!

I started to brainstorm in the last pages of my Moleskine journal the meaning of "wild" (to me, of course). 

I wrote in italian, but I'd like to translate something for you.

WILD means:

- to be close to nature, animals and plants

- to be in contact with instinct and inner energies

- to live a simple and basic life

- to live respecting nature's rules and the cicle of seasons

- courage

- defense of territory

- to explore

- to take care of the nest

- to avoid all is artefact and empty social convention

- to take care of the herd

- cold, hot, hunger, dirt

- green, brown, blue

- freedom

- to roar, to howl, to purr

- to go hunting

- to leave footprints

Oh, it's so inspiring and full of meaning to me!!!

There's in this list something in common to being a little fox, but something more, too!

And now?

How to bring the word of the year into real life?

The first thing I've done is this little painted pebble:

I've decorated it with a black marker and nail polish in different colours (+ transparent to finish the surface).

Now it's into my wallet, among coins.

I use coins everyday, expecially to buy fresh bread (you know, I'm italian).

So I'm sure to have a lot of opportunities to see this little pebble and my word! I think it's a good idea to remember it during busy day, when you start to be a bit "disconnected".

I'd like to find other creative ways to have my word with me. Are you interested? I could write a post about them (next week).

In the meantime you can look for the hashtag #woty2017 to discover something about other people' word of the year and their ways to make them live into their daily life.

I'd like to know if you have a word of the year for 2017 or not. 

Share it with me in the comments!

Any suggestions for my next post?

Blog makeover - new about page

In my last post about this blog's makeover I wrote that I've made some changes around the pages, rearranging them, offering new contents and giving them a better look.

But, honestly, something wasn't so good in them, expecially in the "about" page.

Last sunday I was travelling by bus to work (art exibition "Museo della follia" in Catania) and I was looking at Pinterest on my smartphone, when I saw an interesting pin with this title: "How to write an epic about page for you blog".

If you click it you'll be in the collective mill blog to read the whole article!

So good and full of right considerations and suggestions!

I decided to make some changes in my about page following what the author said in that article and see what happens :)

What I did

Here's a screenshot of the upper parts of my about page before (on the left) and after (on the right):

There's a big difference!

At first glance they're different only in their look, but the most consistent work I've done is on the content.

I've completely reorganized it and divided into four sections:

• eco-friendly sewing + rural life + creativity
  It's important to start with your blog's topics at first. People need to know if your blog is for them or not, before going on exploring.
  I've understood that starting from their needs and curiosities is better than starting from you and your story. It's a  way to capture interested people, but also to be helpful and clear to readers at their first visit.
  
• where to start
  The idea is to be helpful to your readers. They don't know you so much, so offering them some directions to follow is very good.
  I've linked some blog posts I'm proud of, some I think can be useful to my readers, some other to get some informations about me.
  I think I'm going to change them here and there, to get up-to-date directions.
  
• my story
  Of course, interested readers would like something about you and your story. They would probably be curious about who you are in "real" life.
  Without being too rambling, I've tried to tell something about my story, my job, my other passions. There's a real person behind the blog!
  
• let's be friends!
  We live in a very social world. Interaction is what we look for when we write our blog posts (nobody starts a blog to act a monologue).
  So I left some ways to connect with me.

I've done a good job, I think.
Some banners, illustrations and photo help in offering a lovely view to the readers; I imagine them like people who are going in a new place for the first time: visitors need something beautiful, cozy and well organized to feel like at home. 

I've used the colors of my palette (lilac + dusty blue + some black accents) and picmonkey to make photo collages.

What I didn't

There only one thing inside that article that gave me difficulties: the suggestion "Show Them Why You’re Unique".  Uhm, well, coff coff, I'm not so sure!

What I need is some work on personal branding!
I know that I sew, I like nature, I'm doing my best to save the world, but, honestly, are these things making me unique?
I don't know.


I hope this post could be helpful to ther bloggers.
Visit my new about page and let me know what you think!
And, to help me in solving my problems with uniqueness, answer this question: where (or how) did you find your uniqueness?

Using Instagram to tell about my creative process

I've recently discovered Instagram (yes, a bit late, eheh) and immediately felt in love! It's my favourite social media and I find myself posting 1-2 photos everyday (only because I hold me to post 3 or 4 or 5).

I like that it's easy to use, quick (for busy people, too!) and with a strong sense of community inside.

You can find my profile under silvia_triv, if you like to interact or take a glance (or click on the black button on your right).

What kind of things I post?

To be honest, I've started to use Instagram to tell something about my job of tourist guide in Sicily. 

I write about it in a dedicated blog (mostly in italian with translations in english) and I use other on-line tools to spread the world with my joy and satisfaction about my job (a Pinterest board dedicated to Sicily, for exemple) and also to help tourists in some ways.
I decided to open an Instagram account as a support, but soon I started to post something else, here and there.

Now I use to post photos about:

• me in action (there's also a tag used by me and other tourist guides: #touristguideinaction) and the beautiful places when I work (a big privilege!)
• something about my life in Italy and Sicily: food, landscape, traditions, nature, events...
• my life close to nature and country
• my crafty life: materials, tools, my busy hands at the sewing machine, finished projects, parts of the creative process.

The last one is the best part of my being on Instagram.

As an artisan I think it's very important to tell people about your creative process. My customers are not buying products that are born in lifeless factories; there are very busy hands and a person behind handmade items.

People want to know who you are, how you work, what kind of materials you use, the values hidden in your small business / work ...

And (so much more important)... it's funny!

I can let my followers look at my prewashed fabrics drying on my balcony's cords (always prewash your fabrics!!!):

Prima di iniziare a cucire devi prelavare le stoffe. Questa, comprata ieri, è stesa ad asciugare in attesa di diventare una borsa. Before sewing, fabric need to be prewashed. Bought this fabric yesterday and washed today. Now it's drying, waiting to become a bag. #creativeprocess #behindthescenes #sewingprojects #sewingprocess #fabricaddiction #bagmaking #ikeafabric #crafty #cucito #cucire #stoffe #stoffeikea #processocreativo #fabric

Una foto pubblicata da silvia triv (@silvia_triv) in data: 14 Mag 2016 alle ore 10:06 PDT

They can browse into my thread spools, so colorful:

#tools on my desk: thread, rulers, scissors, notebook. Sulla mia scrivania oggi, vicino alla macchina da cucire. #creativedesk #behindthescenes #craftysunday #craftingabag #craftytable #craftydesk #sewingtools #strumenticucito #cucirechepassione

Una foto pubblicata da silvia triv (@silvia_triv) in data: 26 Giu 2016 alle ore 09:58 PDT

I can show them how I use my handmade paper patterns to draw the cut line on fabrics...
... or my hands during a very hard step of bag making (inner zippers!!!) ...
... the finished items ...
... or even the 100% recycled packages I usually arrange (I do my best for the planet, you know!)...

Ready to cut some #recycled upholstery fabric to make bags with! Happiness!!! Felicità è... un'oretta libera per tagliare del damasco di recupero per farci presto delle nuove borse! #bagmaking #creativeprocess #behindthescenes #inthestudio #cucireborse #stoffariciclo #stoffariciclata #upcycledsewing #upcycledsupplies #borsariciclata

Una foto pubblicata da silvia triv (@silvia_triv) in data: 21 Giu 2016 alle ore 06:46 PDT

Bag making. Installing an inner zipper my way. Sto cucendo una borsa e sono tutta presa dal mio personalissimo modo di inserire una cerniera nascosta alla sommità della borsa. E, si, non sembra, ma mi diverto :) #bagmaking #bagdesign #creativeprocess #behindthescenes #inthestudio #sewingprocess #sewingprojects #sewingtips #etsy #etsyitaliateam #cucireborse #borsefatteamano #procedimento #craftysunday

Una foto pubblicata da silvia triv (@silvia_triv) in data: 22 Mag 2016 alle ore 07:43 PDT

Just finished! Same mix of recycled and organic fabrics for: - moleskine cover - wallet for girls Appena finiti! Ho usato lo stesso mix di stoffe di riciclo e bio per: - copertina per Moleskine - borsellino #etsy #etsyitaliateam #etsyseller #etsyshop #ecofriendlysewing #ecofriendlyshop #ecofriendlyaccessories #moleskinemania #moleskineaddicted #moleskinecover #moleskinecase #portafoglioragazza #borsellino #borsellinodonna #regaloecologico #negozioecologico

Una foto pubblicata da silvia triv (@silvia_triv) in data: 24 Giu 2016 alle ore 06:24 PDT

100% #recycled #packaging. I'm going to shop this to Singapore and all is recycled ... paper, ribbon, plastic wrap and yellow envelope! #savetheplanet !!! Packaging 100% riciclato per un ordine che se ne va a Singapore. Tutto è stato recuperato, la carta velina, il nastro, la busta di plastica e quella gialla. Qui si fa del nostro meglio per salvare il pianeta!!! #etsy #etsyseller #etsyshop #etsyitaliateam #packagingidea #packagingideas #packagingtips #ecofriendlyshop #pacchetti #dietrolequinte #behindthescenes #ecologico #riciclocreativo #packagingriciclato

Una foto pubblicata da silvia triv (@silvia_triv) in data: 16 Giu 2016 alle ore 03:32 PDT

Isn't it great?
Love it!

I'm a 100% Instagram enthusiast!

If you like, you can click on the images of this post to give them an earth or to follow me or to leave a comment. All these things will be really appreciated!

If you want to join this "creative process posting", take photos of you at work, or of your materials / supplies, don't forget the most interesting steps of your work and add one of the tags I use: #creativeprocess , #behindthescenes , #inthestudio (all of them, or the one you like best).

Do you post on Instagram to tell about your creative/artistic process?
Do you think it's important in some ways?
What are your favourite things to post on Instagram? 
Let me know! I'm sure I can improve my Instagram experience thanks to your comments!

Blog makeover! Oh, yes!

After my complaint I decided for a blog makeover!

Yes, I love tooooo much to have a special little space to write in, to share my adventures in self-expression, to tell the world something about my steps into the sewing world and my inclinations for nature, country life and creativity in general. 
I didn't like the idea to give up.

So I've rolled up my sleeves and started a very big work. 
A lot of things to change, a lot of aspects to consider and to re-think.

This is what I've done

• I've made a new banner by myself!
  I was still in love with the one Francesca made for me almost 5 years ago, but it wasn't representing me after some important steps done in my creative journey. 
  I'm not very skilled with graphic design, but I realized something I like with very simple tools: Picmonkey collage tool and Microsoft Word.
  Oh, yes. 
  The banner includes written words about the key subjects of this blog (eco-friendly sewing, rural life and creativity) and a selection of photos from my little word. 
  It speaks about me because it's simple.
• I've re-organized the right column, also adding some useful things like a contact form and social media buttons (you can find them at HopefulHoney blog).
• The pages are new! New contents and photos, but (so important) I've added a page about tutorials and free stuff.
• New palette! I decided for the couple light avio blue + light cyclamen.
  Do you like it? It speakes about my personality (I'm quiet, not noisy) and my love for all is nature inspired (I was thinking about flowers and water, when I picked up them).
• New fonts! not only Verdana, but also Copse in different "sizes" for all the titles. And la Belle Aurore in the banner, because I've used it for my shop and it works well.
• I've learned how to center dates and titles in all posts and I love the result!
• I've added some suggestions for further readings at the bottom of every single post thanks to Linkwithin.

How I did?

You probably know I'm not very skilled in web design and other geeky things.

But I love when I can learn new things to make by myself.

So I've read a lot (a lot!) of tutorials on line and followed them.

Simple :)

Simple doesn't mean easy.

I've had some difficulties here and there, but I succeded after some attemps.

Now I'd like to know how to add some buttons at the end of the posts (you know... for sharing the content on google+, facebook or other social medias). I can do it!

And now?

I'm going to work on content.

I have to clear my mind about what to share here in my blog.

I can't simply think to speak about me and my creative journey when I have something interesting (in my opinion) to say.

It doesn't work.

I'd like this blog will be useful to other people.

What do you think? Your opinion is very welcome!

Please, let me know if you like the new look of the blog! Your opinion is very important to me!

You can write a comment also to leave a critique (negative, too, it's not a problem) or suggestions and new ideas!

Your comments are fuel for this blog!

5 Pinterest boards to follow: Making toys

It's April!!! :)

April is my month! 

I'll turn 38 at the end of this month. 

I'm very happy to be an april girl, because I love this period of the year and particularly these 30 days of spring, warm air, bees, flowers and butterflies!

April is often the month when we celebrate Easter, like it's happening this year. And Easter is very good to make some bunnies for home decor or to give as a gift. If you have some free time for sewing, you can try to make a simple soft bunny using my template and following my photographic "how to".

But if you're looking for other inspirations about toys making, I'm collecting in this post 5 Pinterest boards about this subject.

Not only sewing projects, but also toys made of paper, wood, wool and other materials. 
I love the idea to make toys by myself, both sewn and crocheted.

Since I'm mad for Pinterest, I have my board about DIY toys: you can find it here.

5 amazing Pinterest boards about making toys

1) Plush and doll, by Valentina Debbi

A very cute collection of stuffed and soft carachters to be inspired by.

2) Necessary cuteness (love this title!), by Sharon Rohloff

Super cute animals to love and take care of (Sharon's creatures included).

3) Recycled DIY toys, by Mammabook

An amazing parade of recycled projects to make with (or for) your kids. Cheap and funny!

4) Paper dolls, by Barb Braddy Henderson
Do you like paper dolls? This board is for you (and me, too!)

5) Craft Ideas softies, by Ihanna
Cats, bunnies, owls and... so much more!

Advent signs

At mum's home in the North for some holiday days.

The sky is so grey and gloomy here (100% usual for this part of Italy in december) that I feel a bit like I have dark clouds in my brain. But my heart is singing, like under a happy sun.

I'm spending special days with mum, AuntFran, brother, big cousins and friends!

Also enjoying the advent atmosphere.

I can't believe december is here. Again. 2014 is going to the end. Really???

I'm having fun capturing advent signs here and there with my camera.

Not those showy Christmas decorations that are everywhere right now, but all the little things that make my frugal Christmas.
Let me show them with you.

 

A couple of cute tiny angels for my Christmas tree I bought yesterday at "L'artigiano in fiera" (a big fair in Milan):

 

 

They come from Lithuania and I can't wait to show them to S.

 

Other angels I photographed visiting the fair. They are made of crocheted cotton and wooden spheres for the heads.

 

 

A recycled paper nativity I bought for mum in a craft fair  last november (look where S. and I have been in a sunny november sunday!).

It's now part of her collection.

 

 

Mum loved it at first sight. I'm happy her collection is growing with my contribute, too!

 

Some advent craft: I'm making new synthetic felt ornaments. Not only embroidered stars! These are for cat lovers (like me).

 

 

Pam's ornament for mum is in its place: mum decided to hang it to her kitchen's door, so she can see it everyday!

 

 

I'm updating my Pinterest boards almost everyday, filling them with ideas for a rustic Christmas or for all people who like snowflakes (like me!) as winter symbol. They are full of other advent inpirations, take a look!

Pattern review: Bonsai bag by MadeByRae

Do you read Rae's blog?

You should!

It's full of sewing ideas to be inspired by, expecially if you are interested in sewing mum&kids clothes and bags.

In this page Rae shows all her sewing tutorials, included the one to make "Angel tops" I followed to sew my very first one handmade piece of clothing.

Some years ago I've also made a couple of "Buttercup bags", using her pattern, like this or this. 

I still wear this bags, because their medium size is perfect for me and because, well, they have a beautiful design.

My experiences with Rae's tutorials and patterns, as you can read, are great!

They are well written, full of clear images and instructions and easy to follow.

And Bonsai bag pattern is very good, too!

I waited so long to make one! 
I bought her "Bonsai bag" pattern some years ago, after making my buttercups bags, but something didn't coinvinced me (probably I was scared by all that pleats and the sewing around the central panel).
I waited till this october to make one.

But, hey, the final result is this beauty:

I listed it in my shop. Follow the link to read more informations about the bag (only one note: it's a very eco-friendly bag) and to look at additional photos.

What to say about the pattern?

Let me write down some thoughts about it:

- it's very well written, clear, rich in step-by-step photos (24 pages!!!).

- it's not a paper pattern. You will receive the instructions to download it and then you have to print and cut it at home. I like best this kind of pattern, I think they are more eco-friendly (not shipment involved, not wasted paper, also because I usually don't print all the pages, but only the pages I need) and most of all you receive it very quickly (almost immediatly).

- it offers two possibilities for the closure (and consequently two variations in the pattern): closure by magnetic snap (that I choosed) or by inner zipper

- the pleats and the central panel are not too difficult to make and put together; what you will need is a big amount of pins. And of course ironing the pleats before sewing is a good idea (I did it)!

- the pattern gives you a licence to sell the finished bag (with some restrictions) and this is very good for crafters in bussiness like me.

- in my opinion this bag is not for beginners [*], but a person with some basic skills in sewing and some experiences in bag making can realize it without problems.

- the design is lovely, the final dimensions are just perfect.

- the straps designed by Rae (and shown in the pattern) are different from the straps I made. I decided for very simple straps, but Rae's idea about them is more interesting, because it involves plastic rings and knots (as you can see in her blog).

- the central panel can be decorated by ricrac, trims, pompom thread... Rae shows you how to do this.

Making this bag was a pleasure, so after this very good experience I made a bonsai bag for me, in black, because I hadn't a black bag in my closet:

Of course I know it's not so charming as a bonsai bag with a contrasting central panel, but it's perfect for me and my informal look.

[*] If you want to test one of Rae's bag patterns, but you are a beginner in sewing, you can start with Lickety split bag. I haven't tested it yet, but I can see by the photos that it's not too difficult to make.

But I think my next Rae's pattern to buy is to one to make Showoff bag. I really like the shape!

Hope this post will be usefull for other people looking for good bag making patterns.

Shop makeover: thinking about target

I can hear my readers saying: "Where have you gone?".

I know, I'm not blogging too much (for some reasons) in this period, although I have a long list of things I want to share with you.

I'm neglecting my blog, but I'm sitting long hours in front of my pc these days, because I'm working on a very big and important shop makeover (and so, after hours of hard work, I need to leave the pc far from me).

I'm (unlickily) out of work now and I have some free time to think about my little bussiness on Etsy.

Etsy is a hobby for me. I don't want to become rich with my creations, I only want to have fun and have a purpose for all the things I make.

But I can't conceal that the money I have on Paypal thanks to my Etsy shop has been important in the past, expecially to buy airplane tickets to come back to my family and friends in the north.

So now that I have a big amount of free time I decided to use it wisely and to improve some aspects of my shop which needed some help.

The shop makeover requires some steps. I've planned to write about them here on my blog, because I think they can inspire other Etsy sellers in some ways.

The first step is all about target!

If you are new to this subject you can read:

- this Etsy blog post ("How to find your target market")

- this Etsy worksheet ("Who's your ideal costumer?")

- this (italian) post on Etsy Italia Team blog ("Tre consigli per trovare e capire il tuo target")

I've paid attention to my products, their materials, their style, their uses, etc.

They were so heterogeneous!

It seemed like my shop hadn't a precise target.

And it was bad. Very bad!

I've read here and there an important thing: if you want to be for all, you will bo for nobody. It's true.

So I started to think to the thing my items have in common. I found it quickly: they are simple, inspired to nature, eco-friendly (because I mostly use recycled materials and/or organic fabric).

Something a well-defined kind of woman would like. She is in my mind, I know her very well, also because it's very similar to me.

Describing her in details in this blog page is not important, but I'm happy to write that I found my target market!

And after this important step I started to ask to myself "Is my shop ready to welcome this woman?".

The answer was (sadly): "No!".

The banner was too general. My avatar was too "elegant". 

The about page didn't tell about my passion for nature and eco-friendly life. 

My policies weren't promising something unique to my target. 

My items descriptions weren't focused on the eco-friendly process and materials I use to sew them. 

Only a group of my photos were communicating the rustic and nature-inspired style of my products.

A lot of work to do!

I started by changing the shop's title. 

No more the general "Bags and accessories" (thousands of people on Etsy make "bags and accessories"), now it's clear that MadameRenard makes "eco-friendly sewing".

And then I wrote it in a new banner I realized with picmonkey (a free tool online I use to edit all my photos).

This is my new banner:

Simple, with a modern rustic style, with something related to nature (leaves in the bag's bottom on the left), clean.

This is the one I've used before:

Same fonts and same cement wall as background (but darker), but very different for the style and the things it communicates to potentional customers.

I think I did a good work.

What do you think? Opinions are welcome, of course!

I've also changed my avatar. 

The previous one was an image of me well-dressed and well-"arranged" for a wedding.

A beautiful photo, yes, but... where was the real  me? The girl who wears informal clothes and spends her life between art and nature? Where was the girl who sew eco-friendly goodies trying to do her little part in saving the planet?

I needed a new avatar!

I picked up an old photo where I'm in the cloister of Certosa of Pavia, a beautiful place to visit if you are in northern Italy. There is art in it and a beautiful and bright green lawn. 

It's not perfect, but it's better.

It works.

This happened a week ago.

In the meantime I worked on other things:

- about page

- shop policies

- new photos for almost 50% of my items

- new descriptions and new tags

- items to remove because not oriented to my target (what to do with them?)

And I'm still working (now I'm focused on marketing).

I'm going to write other blog posts about the steps I'm making for this shop makeover.

Is this interesting for you? Please, let me know in the comments!

Refashioned + new

This is me in an idiot pose (forgive me! I can't act as a model!), wearing my new white sandals and something recently realized by me: a skirt and a refashioned t-shirt.

I bought the shirt 4-5 years ago and not used it too much, because it was too long and roomy, with and elastic band at the bottom. 

It looked lovely in the shop, but I couldn't wear it without looking pregnant -___-

So this year I decided for some cutting-sewing and now I can wear it.

It's so confy! :)

I like to have it to match with my new handmade skirt.

I made it because this pin inspired me and taught me how beautiful pencil skirts can be.

The fabric is a very fresh and lightweight jersey I bought last year. Lovely print, a bit strange and too optical for me, but I like it the same.

I'm working a lot around my summer closet, this year.

I need more clothes because I work almost everyday and I also need to "reorganize" my exterior appearance, after years of carelessness. 

It's a thing every girl has to do at some points of her life!

The next thing I want to do is another quick refashion: I wanto to turn a pair of old trousers in capri pants.

But today I'm braiding t-shirt yarn and I can't foresee where my creativity will bring me this week! :)

Nautical colours

Did I write I'm currently reading Moby Dick? 

Uhm, probably I didn't.

I know that this novel is a classic for USA and of course it is very well known here in Italy, too, but it's not one of those novels you read at school or similar things. So I haven't read this novel before.

It is so different from how I've imagined it! 

Instead of adventures and dirt life on the sea, I found biblical quotes and philosophy. What a surprise! 

But I'm really enjoying it the same!

Whales and anchors are the protagonists of the evening drawings in my moleskine, because this novel is really inspiring me.

There are some creative projects in my mind and they all are around sea, big fishes and waves. 

So I decided it was the right time to finish a t-shirt with nautical colours (white, red, blue) I've abandoned two years ago.

I was in love with that knitted fabric, but something went wrong while I was making it and I was so scared about wasting it that I left the project unfinished.

But now, after some adjustements (I've added the sleeves and a white band to the neck and the sleeves) it's finished.

And I like it!!!

It's still to cold to wear it alone, even here in Sicily. But it will be perfect this summer, with a pair of dark blue jeans or a light blue capri pants.

Very happy about this tee.

I love nautical colors. They are simple and classic, but not boring.

There are some other unfinished projects (crochet!) on my desk which are in the same colours right now:

I like to explore new themes in my creative journey.

And you?